Heart disease is the UK's biggest killer and accounts for 110,000 deaths.

We've all been told that obesity, smoking and too much alcohol can lead to heart disease and heart attacks, and we know the best way to keep our ticker healthy is to follow a good diet, get plenty of exercise and avoid stress.

This year, Help A Heart Week which runs this week from June 4 to 12 focuses on women and heart disease. Here are ten things you can do in your quest to help keep your heart healthy.

1. Drink a pint of beer a day
Didn't we just tell you alcohol is bad for your heart? Yes, too much can be but studies have suggested moderate drinking might help protect it.

Research in the Czech Republic showed people who drank a beer a day had a 50 per cent reduction in heart disease compared to non-drinkers.

Doctors believe the ethanol in beer thins the blood and so helps protect the heart.

Scientists suggest other factors in beer such as vitamins and antioxidants could also be protective.

2. Have a laugh
Whether it's a little giggle with your friends or a bellow from deep within, having a laugh may help you avoid heart disease, according to scientists. High blood pressure, which can be caused by stress, can lead to heart disease. Laughing may reduce blood pressure if practiced often enough by helping you get rid of all that anger and frustration which makes you stressed.

A good belly laugh can be like a good workout in itself when you feel your heart pumping.

Experts says that 15 minutes of laughter each day combined with 30 minutes of exercise three times a week is good for you.

3. Stay in bed on Monday mornings
Scientists have given us the perfect excuse not to get up. They have discovered that we might not like Mondays because our blood pressure is higher then than on any other day.

They believe the stress of going back to work after the weekend puts the cardiovascular system under pressure and this could be why there are more deaths from heart attacks and strokes on a Monday morning.

4. Eat fish, nuts and tomatoes
If you want a healthy diet, oily fish, nuts and tomatoes are just three key ingredients which will help look after your heart.

Fish is a valuable source of protein without the high levels of saturated fats found in some meats. The omega-3 oil found in oily fish can also help protect the heart by slightly lowering blood pressure.

For a healthy snack, eat a handful of mixed nuts every day. Nuts contain monosaturated oil which has been proven to benefit the heart. Nuts are also rich in magnesium and vitamin E which have been reported to reduce the risk of heart disease.

A study has also found women who eat tomatoes regularly may be at lower risk of heart disease than women who don't.

5. Eat chocolate
Thought this was unhealthy? Too much of it won't do your arteries much good, but opting for real dark chocolate from a chocolatier may be beneficial for your heart.

A study has found that eating dark chocolate seems to make the blood vessels more flexible, which helps prevent the hardening of the arteries which can lead to heart disease.

The antioxidants in chocolate may be good for the heart too but chocolate binges won't ward off a heart attack.

6. Join a Green Gym
If you don't like working out in a gym indoors, then join a Green Gym and exercise outdoors while doing something for the community.

Launched by the conservation society BTCV, Green Gyms get you involved in practical work in the area such as creating community gardens or improving paths while boosting the health of body and mind as you get active. This in turn can help your heart health as you keep fit and beat stress.

Almost a third more calories can be burnt off in an hour of Green Gym than in a step aerobics class.

Green Gyms are run in Portslade and East Brighton. For details about getting involved call the Portslade Green Gym on 01273 415501 or the East Brighton Green Gym on 01273 691207. Alternatively, log on to www.btcv.org/greengym or call 01302 572244.

7. Get a pet
Stroking your pet regularly can help relieve stress and the heart problems it can cause, according to research. Walking a dog will help you get your regular 30 minutes exercise a day. If you don't own a dog, why not offer to walk a dog belonging to someone else? Even a playful kitten will keep you on your toes.

8. Buy a vest
But not just any old vest. The Smart Life vest developed by researchers at Manchester University features sensors in the fabric to check your heart rate, temperature and breathing pattern. The signals are monitored by a computer which spots if there could be a health problem.

A Far East firm has put up £1 million to get it into the high street so it could be something available to us all.

9. Invest in a pedometer
Pedometers are the fitness accessory of the moment to help you see if you're doing your recommended 10,000 steps a day. Asda sell them for less than £4.

If you want something a little more high-tec you could try the Omron HJ109 Step Counter available from Sainsbury's and Tesco, call 0870 750 2771.

If you want more health-related gadgets check out the British Heart Foundation Healthy Lifestyle catalogue at www.bhf.org.uk/lifestyleshop, or call 0207 489 9448 for a copy.

10. Learn yoga
Yoga can help you relax and some studies have shown certain yoga practices can help control high blood pressure. The breathing techniques reduce stress and meditation may help control high blood pressure.

The tortoise pose is known to help increase circulation to the heart, but some postures should be avoided if you have high blood pressure.